2023-24
St. Mary’s Names New Head Men’s Basketball Coach
Lancaster, NY – St. Mary’s High School has named Frank Propis as the school’s new Head Men’s Basketball Coach.
Propis accepts the head coaching job after four years of head coaching experience at St. Mary’s, two years at the freshmen basketball level and two years at the junior varsity basketball level. The junior varsity team went 30-11 during his two seasons as head coach. Propis also served as an assistant coach on the St. Mary’s varsity team during those four years.
A St. Mary’s graduate himself in 2018, Propis knows there’s no place like home: “Being a St. Mary’s graduate, I wouldn’t want to coach anywhere else,” Propis said. “The family atmosphere and culture here is something so unique and something I’m so excited to continue to be a part of and grow even further.”
Propis was part of the St. Mary’s Basketball Team that won the Class B Manhattan Cup in 2017 before heading off to Hilbert College where he graduated with a degree in Communications. He is currently pursuing his Masters in Education.
St. Mary’s Athletic Director Zach Weiss knew Propis was the right fit for the job: “Frank has been an instrumental part of the Men’s Basketball Program for really the past decade – first as a player and now as a coach,” Weiss said. “Our players will continue to respond well to that type of first-hand experience and the energy Frank brings.”
“Along with the other coaches in this program, my ultimate goal is to create a positive learning environment for these young men so that they grow into great people – as well as players – and share in the same values we teach them,” Propis went on to say. “Winning on the floor is obviously great, but winning in the classroom and in the real world is really the goal we have for our players.”
2021-22
Men’s Basketball Wins State Title
In Head Coach Ryan Gallo’s first season at the helm, St. Mary’s won the Manhattan Cup Class B Title Game against Nichols 71-68, affording them the chance to represent the Monsignor Martin in the Class B State Catholic Tournament.
This year’s Class B State Title Game was held in Western New York at ECC, giving the Lancers a bit of a home-court advantage over down-state Cathedral Prep. After a tight first half, the Lancers opened the third quarter on a 10-0 run and never looked back, defeating Cathedral Prep 60-53 to win the Class B State Championship (below).
Men’s Basketball Reaches Class B State Tournament
From The Buffalo News:
St. Mary’s showed that history really does repeat itself.
Five days after they narrowly beat Nichols 63-61 in a playoff opener, the Lancers repeated fate and defeated the Vikings 71-68 on Sunday in the Manhattan Cup Class B title. With the victory, St. Mary’s will represent Monsignor Martin in Class B in the state Catholic tournament.
Senior Massimo Maria Moretti led St. Mary’s with 27 points, 15 rebounds and five assists.
“They just stayed the course, played our system, and executed really well down the stretch,” said first-year head coach Ryan Gallo. “We found a way to win a very tough basketball game.”
The team underwent a facelift in Gallo’s first season, as the program hadn’t won double-digit games in any of the last three years. Part of the change was coaching, but also the addition of Moretti, who came from Italy as an exchange student. He has had an indelible lone season.
The 6-foot-9 forward is averaging 20.9 points, 14.2 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. He’s the team leader and he’s the only one averaging double-digit points.
“His work ethic is really bar none,” Gallo said. “The kid is really driven. He really wants to be a college basketball player and hopefully beyond that. Coming overseas, there will be an opportunity if he stays the course. He has a better understanding of the American game, and he wants to stay here.”
Despite Moretti having only a one-year stint with St. Mary’s, his coach believes he’s a beacon of hope for what the program can become.
Gallo, being a new coach, scored big with an international player, who helped facilitate the change he was looking for.
“Really from a commitment standpoint,” Gallo said. “What form of commitment, not just in season, but what are we doing in the offseason? I didn’t have a full offseason. I was hired a couple of months prior to the start of the year. I had a general indication of some of the modifications, such as commitment, being coachable, being challenged, and being held accountable.”
2019-20
Szablewski Named First Team All-Catholic
Senior Luke Szablewski was named to the First Team All-Catholic in the B Division. Congratulations, Luke!
Men’s Basketball Honors Seniors
Thank you to seniors (from left to right): Levi Taberski, Brendan Murty, Peter Duane, Mike Vallone, Dave Persico, Luke Szablewski, and Jerry Stachura.
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